Normally when it comes to illness and injury, it’s Aston Villa that are the ones suffering. Paul Lambert hasn’t been able to put out a first choice xi so far this season. While he waited for Christian Benteke and Jores Okore to return, Ron Vlaar also missed vital games through injury (with the central of defence suffering from other absentees too) and now Fabian Delph is the latest long-term concern.
Against QPR, Villa centre-back Philippe Senderos is expected to return to form the partnership with Vlaar which started the season well for Villa, but further good news comes in the form of injuries and illness to key QPR players.
QPR illness
It’s that time of year when illness kicks in – I’ve actually out the sniffles while writing this and footballers aren’t safe either.
A virus cut Villa’s first team down shortly before the 3-0 Arsenal defeat at Villa Park, and it seems QPR are having similar problems of their own for the visit of Villa.
Goalkeeper Rob Green maybe returning from tonsillitis to try to redress the leakiest defence in the league, but others are dropping like flies.
Firstly, Adel Taarabt is also out due to a virus (and the ‘fat’ fallout with Harry Redknapp). Then, the latest player to pick up a bug is Niko Kranjcar, who is struggling to overcome a virus which means the QPR midfield could be increasingly threadbare since fellow midfielders Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch are both still recovering from hamstring problems., while long-term absentee Alejandro Faurlin continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.
Also doubtful are Nedum Onuoha (hamstring) and midfielder Sandro (groin) which sees the West London team increasingly looking a soft touch.
While Redknapp will be secretly hoping that their improved performance against Liverpool last week can spur them on to a much-needed result against Villa, while Lambert has a real chance to reverse Villa’s declining fortunes of late.
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villa have been ok/good in parts this year,, although we need to have more possession and create/take more chances
everton aside the teams effort has been very strong, everton was just one of those games and i am sure that there will be a very positive reaction to this,
and QPRs injuries sort of levels the playing field a bit so both teams will not be full strenth so there should be chances,,,, and i feel we will be difficult to break down
so we just need to take the chances we make
and benteke is bound to get going soon,,
Problem is Villa are again switching off in games ala the past couple of seasons. Will be interesting to see if the return of Senderos & Vlaar partnership can improve things when they’re both back together.
But our record going forward is shocking, even when you factor in the fixture list. The buck for that is at Lambert’s feet.
The problem with Benteke is not Benteke himself, but the rest of the team supplying him.
Who’s Robin Green?
Very good question. 😉
Well hearing news that our next opponents are struggling with illness & injury might be good news for Villa who certainly have been blighted this season . But no time to be complacent against a team managed by the whiley Arry .
As for the loss of Delph who has his fans that may come as a blessing in disguise as whilest not wanting to denigrate his contribution to the team effort ,I think Delphs form has limited Lambert’s team selection in midfield . And whilest last weeks loss against a team desperate to return to their form of last season may reflect Delph’s absence it also highlighted what changes need to be made if Villa are to regain their form of earlier in the season . And hopefully lessons will have been learnt and we can climb back up the table
We’ll take all the good luck we can get to get back winning. Up the Villa!